NASHVILLE, Tenn. --
Emergency crews responded to a three-alarm Bellevue apartment complex fire Friday afternoon.
The complex, called Madison at Ridgelake, is located at 100 Ridgelake Parkway off Old Hickory Boulevard. The fire was in building 500 and started on the top floor, officials said.
Deputy Chief Kim Lawson said 12 units were destroyed or heavily damaged. The fire was confined to one building. No residents have been reported injured. One firefighter suffered a minor cut under the chin and will need stitches.
Those who have been displaced by the fire are likely to be housed in vacant apartments, Lawson said. They can report to the clubhouse.
One man who lives at the apartments said he lost everything.
Another resident, who lives in building 200, said she was at work when she heard about the fire and rushed home.
"There's people around here crying," said Victoria Thompson. "They told us that if there's anybody or any dogs or animals that was inside, they were going to evacuate them immediately."
Medic units were standing by to treat firefighters for heat issues, if needed. Lawson praised two officers who spotted smoke and went on a bullhorn to get people out. She said three officers who were in the area to pick up a car saw the smoke and started helping rescue people. They went door-to-door knocking.
One officer helped a man trapped on a third-floor balcony climb down. Officers said the man was panicking.
Lawson said the units had smoke detectors.
Copyright 2011 by WSMV.com. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Got a story idea? E-mail newstips to [email protected] or call the newsroom 24/7
